Oscillating type refrigeration plant



E. B. MILLER ET AL OSCILLATING TYPE REFRIGERTION PLANT June 2, 1931.

Filed Oct.

5 SheetsSheet l June 2, 1931. E. B. MILLER ET AL 1,807,855

OSCILLATING TYPE REFRIGERATION PLANT Filed Oct. 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 u 1931- E. B. MILLER ET AL 1,807,855

OSCILLATING TYPE REFRIGEBATION PLANT Filed Oct. 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 r 3nventoa:

Jun 2, 1931. E. B. MELLER ET AL 1,807,855

OSCILLATIN TYPE REFRIGERATION PLANT Filed Oct. 28', 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June'2, 1931. E. B. MILLER ET AL 1,807,855

V OSCILLTING TYPE REFRIGERTION PLANT Filed Oct. 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheef 5 Patented 'June 2, 1931 UNITD STATES EBNEST LB. MILE-2ER AND WLTER L. EDEL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNORSTO IEEE SILICA GEL CORPORATION, Ol BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A

. MARYLAN D CORPORATION OF OSCILLAJING TYPE REFRGEBATIN PLAN 1 Applieatlon filed October 28, 1925, Serial No. 65,465.

' The present invention relates to ref1igpump or other machinery, even more ef eration apparatus of the adsorption type in which a liquid is evaporated, and the vapor adsorbed in a solid porous adsorbent. It is a modification of the invention described and claimed in Patent 1,729,081 granted to E. B. Miller, September 24, 1929. According to this prior invention, the refrigeration is obtained by evaporating a liquid, such as water from brine and adsorbing the vapor in a solid porous adsorbent such as silica gel the adsorption being carried on in substantiallythe total absence'of permanent gases.

One of the objectsof the present invention is to provide an ap aiatus in which pmps and other power dr1ven devices to maintain a vacuum or produce a refiigerating efi'ect are eliminated.

Another object is to provide an afiparatus that is completely automatic in operation, and at the same-tune is fool-proof so that it will function indefim'tely without requiring attention.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this type with means for fieeing the interior thereof of all permanent gases and accomplishing this result, without a power fectively than witha vacuumpump alone. Another object is to provide an apparatus ivherein the adsorbent is disposd 'so that the maximum surface thereof is resented to the vapor with the result'that t e vapor is not reqnired to penetrate deeply into a bed or layer of adsorbent. Another object is to provide a simplified apparatus of this character that can be manufactured to sell at a relatively low price.v

Other objecte and features of novelt; 'Will be apparent from the following descr1ption taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which r Fig..1 is a front elevation of one form 'of refrigerating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a half side and half seCtional elevation of the same, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3.is an enlirged fragmentarpverfic&l

section taken' substantixlly on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4'4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlargedesectional view of a portion of one of the adsorber sections;

Fig. 6 is a diagrtmmatic view showing the adsorber assembly in its central position;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the adsor ber assembly at the rigl 1t,hand end of its swing; v

F ig. 8 is an elevation partly in section of an adsorber made up of pipes; and

Fig. 9 is aplan view of the pipe adsolber. Briefl stated,an apparatus accordin to the present invention comprises-two adsor ors A and B carried by a frar ne C Which is ful-.

crumed at D on a stationary Trame E.

While one adsorber: -is adsbrbing vapor from the evaporator 44, the adsorbent materialin the other adsorber is being ativated, communication betwen the adsorbers and evaporator being controlled automaticafly by valves. The alternate action of the adsorbers is obtained by automatically tilting the same, and this movement is utilized to control the heat for activating and the shifting of the valves. During activation, the adsorbers are automatically freed of permanent gases by.

exhausting the vapor therefrom and thus sweeping out any permanent gases. If de-- sired the vapor may be condensed and returned to the evaporator.

The apparatus,according to this invention, may take many forms. The oneshown in the drawin s, somewhat diagramrhatically, is

merely y way of illustration.

The two frames E and C may be made con'.

veniently of angle bars 10 or other suitable shapes. The stationary frame E supports two pivot blocks 11, one on each side of the frame- 'work, each block having tWo p1vot pomtsl2.

The adsorbers are supported on these pivot pointsf0r tilting movement and for this purpose the frame C, at opposite sides thereof, is provided with blocks, each having a pair of V shaped notches 14 adapted to cooperate with the pivots 12. The frame 13 carriestwo adsorbrs A. and B inclined one to,the other as shown in Fig. 1. s

Each adsorber comprises a plurality of sections 16, the construction of which is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 5. Each section con- Sists of two cupped or flainged plates 17 which are 'oined together at their marginal edges (as y welding) and a pair of spaced screens 18 mounted centfally between said plates.

bed of adsorbent. Not only does this construction provide for rapid adsorption ofthe vapor, but it also permits a speedy activation of the adsorbent.

The interiors of the adsorbent sections 16 are in communication at their upper ends through short lengths of pipe 19, and are securedto the frame C near their upper ends in any suitable manner, as by means of the bolts 21, spacing sleeves 22, clampingbars 23, andnuts 24, the bolts and sleeves being on the outsid of the sections and secured 'to the frame C, the bars 23 passingbetween the sections and bearing against one side of each, so that the sections are drawn together and towards said frame C by the bolts and nuts. At their lower ends, the sections ar e secured to two spaced angle bars 25 by angles 27 and said bars are supported frein the frame C by means of two vertical rods 26, one at the front and the othe1 at the back of the apparatus.

Each adsorber A and B is surrounded by a heat insulating casing 28, which is open at the top and bottom, the bottom edges being curved on the arc of a circle as shown at 28%, Fig. 1.

The fiame 0 also carris a valve casing 30 which is disposed between the two adsonb'ers and at the top of the apparatus. As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this casing is divided into two chambers 31 and 31 by a vertical and transverse partition 32. Each of these chambers is connected to one of the adsorbers by means of pipes 33 and 33 respectively. Communication between the two chambers is ob: t'ained by a conduit 34 extending through the partition and provided With a central passageway 35.- At its opposite ends this conduit is formed With the valve seats 36 and;

36 With which the valves 37 and 37 respectively cooPerate. As shown, these valves are carried by arms 38 and 38 respectively rotatively pivoted at 39 and 39 to the valve casing 30. T0 obtain the proper alternate opening and closing of the valves, they are connected by a link 40 which extends through the conduit 34, the ends of the link being pivotally attached to the respective valves at40.

The conduit 35 is in communicationwith the evap'ortor 44 through pipe 41, the flexible mietallic bellows 42 and the pipe 43. The

pipe 41 being carried by the tiltable frame C, and the p1pe..43 bei-ng supported on the stationary part of the appartus, it is necessary to provide a flexible connection between the two and this is obtained by the bellows 42, carried by the stationary frame E.

The evaporator 44 is designed to contain a suitable liquid such as brine solution and is entirely sealed from the atmosphere. It may be made as a welded metallic casing and provided with a.plurality of chambers 45 into which suitable ice trays (not shown) may be slid in the usual manner.. A drain 47 is provided at the'bottom of the evaporator and may be closed by any suitable means such as valve 47. From time to time, the evaporator must be supplied With make-up Water and for this purpose a valve controlled inlet 44 may be provided which can be connected Witl a watermain if desired, or the vapor driven oii from the adsorbers durihg activation may be condensed and returned to the evaporator.

Any suitable means may be provided for furnishing heat to activate the adsorbers. As shown, a plurality of gas burners 50 are mounted in a casing 51 below the adsorbers and carried by the stationary frame E. The top of the cas1ng is open and its upper dges are curved to'correspond with the curved edges 28 of the adsorber casings so that these casings substantially join each other. The burners 50 may be o-f the usual Bunsen type and supplied from a gas main 53. Pilot lights 54, mounted adjacent burners 50 are also connected to the gas main 53.

The supply of gas to the burners 50 is controlled autom.tically. This may be accomplished by employing the tilting movement of the adsorbers' to activate the gas valve. When the apparatus is in position shown in Fig. 1, the adsorber B is being activated, While adsorber A is adSorbing water vapor. At this time, the gas burners 50 are bur'ning and furnishing heat to activate the adsorber B. After a time the adsorbers will tilt so that frame C will be supported on all the pivot points .12. In other Words, the

adsorbers will occupy a position midway of the total swinging mo'vement. For this purpose, the gas to the burners should be eut ofl so that there will be no'further activation of adsorber B. Then after a time, the adj.:Sorbers will swing further in a clockwisc direction as viewed in Fig. 1 so that adsorber A will be brought to have its casing register with the burner casing 51. At this time, the gas should be turned on so as to activate adsorber A. These results are obtained by providing a special two-way cock 55 in the. gas main53. This cock 55 is provided With an operating handle or lever 56, the further end of which is formed With a slot 57, A pin 58, carried by the adsvber A, operates in the slot 57 so that tilting of the adsorber swings the lever 56. l

' In order to adjust thperiod of the tilting action, counterweights 60 may be provided Which are adjustably mounted on the rods 26. By sliding these up or down, the center of gravity of the adsorbers as a whole may be adjusted. These weights may be secured 'in adjusted positions by means of set screws 61.

When activating, it is desired that the vapor evaporated from the adsorbcnt may be exhausted in order to sweep out all permanent gases that may have accumulated. For this purpose, the valve chambers 31 and 31 are'provided With relief valves 62 and 62 respectively, which are set so as to open When the pressure in the valve chambrer exceeds the pressure of the atmosphere. These valves may open directly to the atmosphere in which case the 'vapor is lest and from time to time this vapor Will then flow into chamber 31 and be conducted by pipe 33 to the ad sorber A where itis adsorbed by the adsorbent material contained therein. Preferably, this material is granular silica el such as manufactured by The Silica Gel orporation, of Baltimore, Maryland. Other gels might be used or other solid porous adsorbents if suitableto take up the vapor of the liquid refrigerant being used.

'While the adsorber A is adsorbing the water vapor as statd, adsorber B ,will be activated, the hot gases from the burners rising through the casing 28 surrounding the adsorber and thereby heating the adsorbent and liberating the adsorbed vapor. The liberated vapor will pass through pipe 33 into ch.mber 31 and When the pressure slightly exCeds atmospheric'will open relief valve 62 -thereby exhausting the vapor and sweeping ont any permanent gases tha.t may have accumulatd in the adsorber or connected parts.

As activation continues, adsorber B Will gradually decrease in Weight because of the vapor liberated therefrom, while adsorber A Will gradually increase in weight because of Water vapor being adsorbedthereby. The

heat of adsorption iscarried away by air passirg npwardly through the adsorber A. After a time, the change in weights Will be s'fiflicient to' cause the combined adsorbing portion of the apparatus'tb tilt. on the. pivot block Dtd 9. position where all of thepivctpoints l2 are supporting the adsorbing ap- Will be substantially horizontal and adsorber B will have swung clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, to a position Where the open bottom of casing 28 is out of register with the burner casing 51 so that air may pass up through the casing 28 and cool the adsorber. tilting action turns lever 56 to the position illustrated by the dotted line and thereby cuts oi the supply of gas to the burners 50. Of course, gasis continually supplied to the pilots 54 through the pipe 54 which is conncted to the gas main on the pressure side of valve 55. The adsorber assembly halts at the central position described abov ,until the difference in Weights between the two adsorber units increases enough to further tilt the same about the right hand pivot points 12.. This pausing'or halting in the tiltingmovement is an important feature of the present invention. Activation usually is effected more rapidly than the adsorption and the halting movement mentioned permits the activation of one unit to be out ofi long before the other unit has ceased its adsorbing action. This action alsoprovides for the most economical use of the gas or other heat- This ing medium inasmuch as heating is riot continued after the adsorbent has been substantially activated.

When the adsorber assembly tilts from the central position mentioned above (shown in Fig. 6) to its right hand position, (shown in Fig. 7) the casing 28 of adsorber A is brOughtv into register quickly With the burner casing.

51, and simultaneously the gas lever 56 is.

tumed to the position indicated by dotted line 66, Fig. 1. h

The adsorber assembly. .is designed so that its center of gravity is above or hi hei than the pivots 12. When the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the-center of gravity of the.adsorber assembly is aboVe-and slightly to the left of the left hand pivot 12. As the weights of the adsorbers change, the center of gravity moves to the right, there being no through the left pivot 12. Then the assembly quickl; tilts tothe position. shd wn in Fig.

6.- This inovement is'rapid and unhesitating because the center 'of gravity moves frther to the right as the tilting continues, thereby furnishing a radually jncreasirig jtrning movement. e assembly pauses or haIts, in

this central position-until the weight of adsorber A increases sufiiciently to move the center of egravity across the vertical line through the right hand pivot 12. Then the assen1bly tilts rapidly and without interruptien to the position sh0wnin Fig. 7. This Iast step, in the tilting movement quickly brings adsorber A "ton activatixigpositifin,

turns' on thegas, andat same time places;ad-

sorber B in communication with theev poparatus. In thiposificn, the valve casingrator 44.

110 movement of the 9.ssembly until after the center of gravity has crossed the verticalline In swinging from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the said central position, shown in Fig. 6, the valves 37 and 37 remain unchanged because of the arrangement of the centers of gravity thereof, and because chamber 31 is under a pressure less than atmos pheric, while chamber 31 has a pressure slightly greater than atmospheric. Thus, the

high pressure being on the right hand side of valve 37 (as viewed in Fig. 3) said valve is held against its scat unt il after the adsorbers have swung to. their extreme right hand positions. Thon the pressure in chamber 31 increases, and that in chamber 31 decreases,

, which changes in pressure coupled with gravity acti ng on the valves, cause valve 37 to close and valve 37 to open.

After the weight of adsorber A has.been decreased by activation and that of adsorber B increased by adsorption, the adsorber unit will tilt counterclockwise, to the said central position, and thescquence of operations will continue in a perfeetly obvious manner.

It is evident that the apparatus will operate indefinitely without any attention except t0 supply make up water at intervals, which may be of several days duration.

When it is desired to change the length of the periodsof activation' and adsorption to accord with the amount of refrigeration desired, the counterweight 60 may be adjusted to change the center of gravity of the adsorber assembly.

Another form of adsorber section is shown in Figs. 8 and 9.' Here each section comprises a header80 having a plurality of pipes 81 welded thereto, the lower ends of the pipes being closed. A tubular screen 82 is fastened in each pipe, extending throughout the length thereof, and projecting into the header. The annular spaces between the screens and inner surfaces'of the pipes are filled with silica gel or other suitable adsorbent. The headers 80 are in communication through the connectors 83 Welded thereto, and the inside header is connected to the valve casing 30 by pipe 33 the same as in the adsorber previously described.

The above adsorber construction, may be employed in connection with other forms of refrigerating apparatus and are not limited to the oscillating type described herein.. In both forms of adsorbers it will be noted that the path of thefivapor from the central perforated screen to the outer Wall of the c011- tainer is extremely short and that the superficial area of the exposed surface of the adsorbent is quite large in relation to the total volume of the adsorbent in each container.

The feature of sweeping out permanent gases by exhausting vapor from the adsorbers during activation,is claimed in Patent No.

1,729,083, granted to E. B. Miller, et al., Sep' tomber 24;,1929.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: v

1. Refrigerating apparatus of the charmeter described, including in combination, a. support, a unit comprismg .a pair of adsorbers charg*ed with vapor adsorbing material balanced on said support so that alternate adsbrptions and activations causes said unit periodically t0 tilt, first one way and then the other, an evaporator.containing an evaporable liquid, means to place said evaporator alternately in communication with said adsorbers, and means controlled by said tilting movement to activate each adsorber when it is disconnected from said evaporator.

2. Refrigerating apparatusof the character described, including in combination, a support, a unit comprismg a pair of adsorbers charged with vapor adsorbing material balanced on said support. so that alterna adsorptions and activations cause said unit periodically t0 tilt, first oneway and then the other, an evaporator containing an evaporable liquid, means controlld.by said tilting movement to place said.evaporator alternately in communication with said adsorbers,

and means to activate each adsorber when it is disconnected fmm said vaporator.

3. Refrigerating apparatus of the charaC- ter described, including in combination, a support, a unit comprising a pair of adsorbers charged with vapor adsorhing material balanced on said support so that alternated adsorptions and activations cause said unit periodically t0 tilt, firt one way and then the other, an evaporator containing an evap orable liquid, means to place said evaporator place the evapbrator in, and out of, communication with said adsorber and to activate the adsorber when out of communication with said evapomtor.

5. Refrigerating apparatus of the acter described, includmg in combinatin,a stationary ev'aporator containing an evapo rable liquid, a air of adsorbers charged with a vapor adsor ing material, a valve device controlling communication between said evaporator and adsorbers, and means controlled by changes in the vveights of said adsorbets to alternately activate said adsorbers,

charpair of adsorbers adapted to beplaaed in communication with said evaporator, means supporting said adsorbers for rocking movement constructed and arranged so that the adsorbels swing from one end of their movement to a central position, pause, and then swing to the other end of their movement, means to activate each adsorber whei1at one end of its movement, and means to cut fi' r. both communication with said evaporator when being activated.

7. Apparatus of the character described including in combination au evaporator containing evaporable liquid, a pair of rigidly connected adsorbers adapted to be placed in communication with said evaporator, a pair of parallel pivots supporting said adsorbers for roking movement, the parts being constructed and arranged so that the adsorbers swing on one pivot from one end of their movement to a central position supported on pivots where there is a pause in the swingmg movement, and then swing on the other pivot to the other end of their movement, means to activate each. adsorber when at one end 0]? its movement, and means to cut off communication with said evaporator when being activated.

8. Ref1igeratihg apparatus of' thecharaoter described including'in combinati0n, a

stationary evaporator containing an evaporable fiuid, an adsorber 'charged with a vapor adsorbing material in communication with said evaporator, means supporting said adsorber for tilting movement efiected by the changes in weight thereor, means to alternately place said. evaporator in, and out of, communication with said adsorbcr, and means to activate said material, controlled by'the tilting movemnt of said aclsorber.

9. Refrigerating apparats of the characterdcscribed, including in combination, an

evaporatcr containing an evaporable liquid, an adsorber charged with a vapor adsOrbing material in communication with said eaporator, one of said partsbeing stationary, means to support the other for swinging movement in steps efi'ected by changes in the weight thereofi such means being constructed to provide a dwell at each and and the middle of the swinging movement, means to cut ofl Communication between said-evaporator and 'adsorber at one end of said movement and activate said adsorber, controlled by said swinging movement material communication with said evapocommunication between said evaporator and adsorber at one end of said movement and means controlled by said swinging movement to activate said adsorber when said communication is out ofi;

11. Refrigerating apparatus of the character described including in combination, an

evaporator containing an evaporable liquid,"

a pair of rigidly conHected adsorbers charged with a vapor adsorbing material in communication with said evaporator, means to support said adsorbers for swinging movement in steps efected by changes in'the weight thereof, such means being constructed to provide a dwell at each end and the middle of the swinging movement, and means controlled by said swinging movement to cut ofl com- .munication between said evaporator and alternat adsorbers at each end of said movement and activate said adsorbers when said communication is eut ofi'.

12. Refrigerating apparatusof the character described including in combination, an

evaporator containing an evaporabl liquid,

a pair of rigidly connected adsorbers charged with a vapor adsorbing material in communi' cation with said evaporator, means to support said adsorbers for swinging movenent in steps effected' bychanges in the weight thereof, such means being constructed to provide a dwell at each end and the middle of the swinging movement, means to cut off communicatidn between said evaporator and alternate adsorbers at each end of said movement, andn1eans controlled by said movement to activate the adsorbers when said communication is out ofi.

13. An adsorber for refrigerating apparatus including a header, a series of pipe lengths secured to said header, each pipe being in communication at one end with said header a'nd closed at the other end, and means to support adsorbent material in each pipe being in Communication at one end with said header and closed at the other end, a cylindrical screen in each piPe and cOnccntric therewith,* but of smafller diameter, and a solid adsorbent material in the amiular spacc 'betweenthe outside of the screen and the 15. Refiigerafion apparatus of the char-,

acter described, including in combination, a support, a unit comprising a. pair of adsorbers charged, with vapor adsorbing material balanced on said support so that alternate adsorptions and activations cause said unit periodically to tilt first one way and then the other, and a single source of heat below said support, said adsorbers being s positioned on said unit that one'is directly above said source of heat at each end of a tilting movementof said unit, the axisof tilt being below the tops of the adsorbers.

16. Refrigeration apparatus of the character described, inclUding in combination, a

' j support,a unit comprising a-pair of adsorbers charged with vapor adsorbing material balanced on said support so that alternate adsorptions and activations cause said unit periodially to tilt first one way and then the other, a-single source of heat below said support, said adsorbers heing spaced apart at the top and converging toward the bottoms whereby minimum tilting causes one gr the other to register With said source of eat. .17. Refri eration apparatus of the character descri ed, including in combination, a support, a unit comprisingrapair of adsorbers charged with vapor zzdsorbing material balanced on said support so that alternate adsorptions and activations cause said unit periodically to tilt, means to limit the. tilting so that the bottom of the lower ad. sorber is centrally positioned in respect to the axis 0;E tilt and a single source of heat positioned to be directly beneath the bottom of the low'er adsorber.

18. Refri eration apparatus of the character descri ed, including in combination, a

40 support, a unit comprising a pair of adsorbers charged with vapor adsorbing material balanced on said support so that alternate adsorptions and activations cause said unit periodicaflyto tilt, means to limit the tilting so that the bottom of the lo'wer dsorber is centrally positioned in respect to the axis of tilt, a fuel burner-positioned to be directly beneath the bottom of the lower adsorber at maximum tilt and means to supply fuel to '50 said burner only when an adsorberis above it.

In testimony whereof they heretmto aflix their signatures. A ERNEST B. MLLER.

WALTEB L-EDEL. 

